Reciprocating element operating device



Patented June 3, 1952 OFFICE fiEoIPR-ooA'rmG ELEMENT OPERATING DEVICE Robert Baldwin, New- Castle, Ind.

Application June 1; 19 1s;-Shaina-30,398

6Claims;- o1.-1s1-1 1. This invention relates to avalvewhicli maybe initially opened and then will automatically; close following apredetermined length of time, whereby a predetermined flow-' o'f a fluid'maybe' had.

The valve finds many uses, one particularuse being on a coi'lee urn-such' as may be employed in restaurants and the like, where-a predeter mined amount of water iS flOWed-intO 131180011568" urn for a predetermined amount of "coffee; so thatthe desired coffee mix may be had uniiormlyifor" each brew. Theinvention' of course-is"not to be limited to that obligation. An advanta'ge of theinvention lies in the facttha't once'the-operating lever of the valve is p'ulled-to' its open position. the further operation-ofthe-valve becomes-automatic, and its operation-does not depend upon an operator to remember to further operate the valve when the desired flowhas' been reached. In other words the valve works automatically once it has been opened; It'may be adjusted for different lengths of flows, and of coursethe valve' may be made in different sizes depending: upon the capacity intended.

A further advantage of the'inventionliesin the fact that once the operatinglever" is-shifted to the valve open position, it cannot be returned to the closed position due to-a fool proof construction which requires thevalve'to =ren'i'ain"' open until it has pe'rmittedthe requiredvolume -of" flow therethrough. In other wordsi. after the valve operating lever has beer'i' shifted to the" open position, and assuming that'it'has travelledpart way back to the closedposition, the handle' can not be again operated in'that'intermediate position until the oompleteflow has-been had; so that the predetermined flow is'h'ad atanyand all times the handle or lever offth'e valveunayfbe shifted to the open position.

These and many other objects'and advantages of the invention such as the extreme simplicity'of its construction, its durability; oi-construction, and its certainty of operationat all timesin the" manner intended, will be" apparent to 1 those versed in the art in the followingdescript-ion of one particular form of the" invention asdllustrated in the accompanyingdrawingsdn which:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical, diametrical section through a structure embodying: the invention-- with the valve in the closed positions;

Fig. 2, a view in like section with the valve operated to its initial open position, and before release of the handle;

Fig. 3, a transverse'section on-theline' 33-in" Fig. 1; n

Fig. 4, a vertical diametrical-section-through the valve structurekafterv the-release of the-oper- 2 ating haridlefollowing an initial period of flow through' the valve;-

Fig. 5; aview in end elevation of the structure; and-'- Fig;- 6, a -vi'ew in opposite side" elevationofthe handle supporting mechanism. 1

Referring to-"the drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts through out the several views, there is'indicated a supply pipe-IIF on-which the v'alvebod'y II is mounted, hereinshown as byascrew-thread attachment. Leading from the body'l I is a -discharg'e'pipe I2' likewise secured in the p'rese'nt' showing byscrew th-readedly entering the" valve body II. Within-the :valve; there is 'the vertically "disposed stem l3"'on'which is secured the valve I4 'nor'-' m'allypressed -against a" seat I5' by means of a compression spring? I6"carried in a nut' l1, surroundi'n'g'a lowerend of'the stem I3 and abutting th'e' undersideof the-valve I4; all in the usual'and wellknownmanner. The valve steml3 extends from the top: sideof the" valve It in sliding relation through an'upper portion I8 of the valve body II.

On thisupper portion I8' of' the valve bodyl'l,

thereis mou'nted a head l 9,'herein shown as by ascrew-threaded attachment as indicated by the threads ZD'. The upper end ofthe stem- I3"slid ingly, enters-a central vertical bore 2| provided through the head I 9.- Adjacent the upper'end of arcua-te channel the; stem" I 3- there is provided an 22*entirely therearound. 1

Toone' side ofthe bore 2I there is provided a bore 23 extending vertically: through the head I 9' i to have'its'axisparallel tothe axis of the bore 21.

Inlth'is bore 23 there is carried by asliding'fit'a ballfSi- Thespaci-ng-apart of the boresZ I' and-23 is made to be such in relation to the diameter of the'ba1l-28;-:that whenthe-post 24' is in the'upper position, Fig. 1, theball-28 fits'by a portion within the annular channel-25- and simultaneously bears-byan opposite-side against the stem-I 3 be low-the channel 22, when the valve I4 is seated all as shown in Fig. -1; I

on oneside-ofthe body I 9, herein-shown as on the right hand-side,- there-is provided an extendinghandlebracketZS, which may b e either anintegral part or separate-part of-the-body I9? herei-n shownas-a separate and secured tothe body-.1 Q -by mansofi-a-pair of screws 30E The body |9 above the laterally extending bracket 29 is provided with a transverse passageway 3| to have front and rear upwardly extending portions 32 and 33. Above these body portions 32 and 33, the body merges into a cylindrical collar 35, into which is screw-threadedly engaged a cylinder 36, extending axially in alignment with the bore 2|.

The bracket 29 is essentially L-shaped to have an up turned portion 31 transversely across which is carried a pin 38 to carry the spaced apart ends 39 and 49 of the operating lever 4|. This lever 4| is formed in L shape tohave an up turned portion 42 and the portion 43a, the major portion of which is bifurcated to provide-the end portions 39 and 46 which extend substantially horizontally through the passageway 3|. In other words the up turned portion 42 is on the opposite side of the cylinder 36 from the pivot pin 32. A torsion spring 43 normally rocks and holds the lever 4| in the upper position as indicated in Fig. 1. This spring 43 has one terminal end 44 entered in the lever end portion 39 and then curved around over the top of the pin 36 to extend downwardly along the side of the bracket up turned end 31 and then enter that bracket by an end portion 45.

rod 41 which slidingly passes out through a lower cylinder head 48 to slidingly enter the upper end of the bore 2| to be in the path of the upper end of the valve stem l3. Normally when the valve I4 is :in the closed position, there is a space left between the lower end of the piston rod 41 and the upper end of the stem l3 as indicated in Fig. 1. At a predetermined position spaced downwardly from the top end of the cylinder 36 there is a top head 49 which has a central conical opening 59'therethrough, Then there is a cylinder cap secured to the top end of the cylinder 36 through which there is screw-threadedly carried a needle valve 52 to have its lower end aligned centrally with the conical opening in thehead 49. In the form herein shown, the upper cylinder head 49 is screw-threaded internally of the cylinder 36 to the desired location. This head 49 carries a plurality of check valves 53, herein shown as consisting of a ball 54 normally pushed upwardly into a closed position by means of a spring 55 whereby pressure within the cylinder 36 below the head 49 may not be transmitted upwardly into space above the head 49. On the other hand,

pressure within the space above the head 49 when it becomes suificient to overcome the push of the springs 55, may be transmitted past the balls 54 downwardly against the upper side of the piston 46. The piston 46 is shown herein to have length of this screw 51 above the piston 46, the

upper travel of the piston 46 under the urge of I the spring 58 which is provided within the cylinder between the underside of the piston 46 and the top side of the lower head 48, is limited by the head of the screw 51 striking against the underside of the top head 49 all as indicated in Fig. 1.

The space. below the piston 46 within the cylinder 36 is preferably vented to the atmosphere by any suitable means, herein shown as by means of holes 59 through the lower head 46. Likewise of oppositely extending pins 63 and 54.

4 the space within the cylinder 36 above the upper head 49 and under the cap 5| may also be vented to the atmosphere by any suitable means, herein shown as through the plug 69.

Adjustably fixed along the piston rod 41 is a collar 6|. This collar 6| is adjustably held by any suitable means such as by a set screw 62, Fig. 4, passing through the collar 6| and abutting the piston rod 41. This piston rod 41 extends between the side portions 39 and 49 of the lever 4| in a free manner, and the collar 6| carries a pair The collar 6| in top plan view is generally rectangular in shape. The pins 63 and 64 are in the paths of lugs 65 and 66 extending inwardly toward the piston rod 41, but with clearance therebetween. The pins 63 and 64 are located to be at all times below these lugs 65 and 66. V

The collar 6| carries a third pin 61 which extends at right angles to the axes of the pins 63 and 64. This pin 61 extends through the vertically, elongated eye 66 of a head 69 which is mounted on the top end of the post 24. In other words the pin 61 is free to travel vertically within this eye 68 for a distance. A spring 16 is carried by the post 24 in an upper end portion thereof so as to extend into the eye 69. Across the upper end of this spring .19 there is provided a plate 1| as a bearing against which the pin 61 may yieldingly push downwardly when the handle 4| is lowered sufliciently.

Mounted between the lever portions 39 and 49 is a pawl 12 to rock about a transverse pivot pin 13 in a manner whereby a long arm of this pawl designated by the numeral '14 may extend over into the-path of the top side of the collar 6|, and further, this pawl 12 is provided with a short downwardly turned leg 15 which comes into contact in certain positions with an upper portion or side of the bracket 29.

A torsion spring 16 surrounds the pivot pin 13 to one side of the pawl 12 and is interconnected between the pawl and the lever portion 39 in such manner that the pawl 12 is normally tended to have its arm 14 rocked downwardly.

Now to describe the operation, reference is first made to Fig. 1, wherein all of the parts are in those positions wherein the valve I4 is closed and there is no flow from the pipe I0 to the pipe -|2. Furthermore, in the cylinder 36 in the space between the upper head 49 and the cap 5|, there is provided a volume of fluid of any suitable nature. When the flow is to be started, the handle 4| is pulled down by the hand grip 86 and carried on downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that position shown in Fig. 2. In carrying the lever 4| to that position shown in Fig 2, the piston 46 has been pulled downwardly by reason of the lugs 65 and 66 pushing downwardly on collar pins 63 and 64 to pull the piston downwardly through the connecting rod 41. In causing this travel of the piston 46, fluid which is carried'above the upper head 49 is pulled not only through the conical hole 59, but it is also pulled through the check valves 53 which permit a rapid filling of the space between the top side of the cup'56 and theunde'r side of the head'49. This downward pulling of the piston 46 is in opposition to the upward push of the spring 58.

When the lever 4| has been broughtdown to its lower portion of rocking, the pin 61 will strike the plate 19 and initially push downwardly on' the spring 16, by pressureof the pin 61 on the spring covered cap 1|. This gives an initially yielding downward push on the post 24, to permit the" the stem I3 to hold that stem in its; down position against the upward push of the spring. 16. The. position of the partsin Fig. 2:- are-those when the;

operator has pushed the lever 4| down to its low ermost position, and before the operator has" re: leased the handle.

With the valve lfliopen as indicated Fig. 2,: flow of fluid from the pipe I around; anduacross; the valve l4 and into thecpipe l2; may then be had. Releasing the valve:MIpermits:the.spring' 43' to rock the handle 41 upwardly to its; initial;

position as indicated in Fig.1 andzalsoasindicated in Fig. 4.

correspondingly without lifting thepost. 2.4; leaving the ball 28 in its stem.interlockingpositiom As the lever 4| travels upwardly under-the, urge of the spring 43, the pawl I2 beingnormallyurged downwardly by its arm portion [4; causes the short arm 75 to kick back:against;the upper. portion 31 of the bracket.29.. Thereisprovided on this portion of the bracket 29 a.notch- 8 l into which the lower endof the. arm 'l5 may drop under the urge of the springr'lfi; as indicated in Fig. 4. In so doing, the. arm; 15 very'effectivelylocks the lever 4| in.its ,upper position southat it may not be pulled downwardly as; long- .asthat arm 15 is entered in the;notch;.8 l. While this interengagement of the; arm- 15; with the notch 8| is in effect, the collar filbeing; attached to the piston rod 41 is below and outioicontact with the free end of the pawl arm";

The spring 58.within thev cylinder 36-is left free to exert its upward pressure against the piston 46 when the. operating lever M has returned to its uppermost position as justdescribed; As this spring 58 tends to push thepiston 46upwardly,

fluid entrapped betweenthe'cup .56' andthe head I 49 may escape into thechamberof .thecylinder 36 above the head 49 only-bypassing; around the,

end of the needle valve.52.- The rate offlow therepassed is of course determinedby the, depth of the conical end of thiswalve within the conical seat In other words by turning, the valve 52, the rate of flow between thespace-below and above the head 49-is determined, and consequently that opening past. the needle valve determines the rate of speed of returniof'the pistonrod 4'! to its uppermost position.-

Now as the piston 46. approaches the upper end of its travel, the collar Bl will comeinto contact with the under side of :the ireeiend ,of lthearm 14 of thepawl l2 and will have rocked it out of engagement between its arm I5 and the notch 8| to restore it to that position; shown in Fig. 1 whereby a subsequent action. may behad... How-.- ever this release of the pawl 12 is.-only.effected at the extreme upper end portion of travel of the piston rod 41. Likewiseas the piston 46 reaches its upperend portion of traveL. the pin 61 will have come into contactwith the upper end of the eye 68 in the head .69. sothatthe postwill; be pulled upwardly to. allow;-the..1ball 28 to enter into the annular groove. 25.therearound, and;.,be. particularly urged therein byreason of the upward urge of the spring l6 against the valve l4 tending to lift the stem l3; p st the ba1l 2,8.=; In'

other words the ball 28 wi'll*pop"into' this channel The pin. 61 travels. upwardlywithin the eye 68 without lifting ,the'head 69, and,

251'- byslighttravehupwardly of the-:postilkasnisa determined by'thei adjustment ofi'the. collar; 1; along the piston rod-41; Thus theflvalve. Mil-may then close, and remain closeduntilrassubsequente operationof; the handle or lever 4.1zall.as:;above:- described.

Therefore, itzis. believed to be obvious. that; while the invention has. been describedinminor; detail in respect to the one particularformhere+ in shown, mechanicalchanges and constructions; may be employedall without departing: fromtthe spirit of the invention; and is. therefore: desired. that the invention not be limiteditozthat precise: form, beyond the limitations which. may. be im-' posed by the following claims,

I claim:

1. A stem shifting-device. comprising abody; al stem carried by thebody shiftable-between firsti and second. positions; means normally 'yieldingly, maintaining said stem in said'first: position; a cylinder; a headinthe cylinder; a fluid reservoir: above said head; a-piston in thecylinder; a piston. rod between said piston and said" stem; spring; meansnormally urging said pistontoward said:

' head; a-lever; a rod carried projectingmemberin:

the path of said lever to be.contactedibyrocking; the lever to pull said piston awayfrom said head and shift said stem to a secondv predetermined position; means actuated by-pressure differential between oppositesides of saidhead induced-by travel of said piston away from said head-lpermitting one wayflow of fluid from said reservoir to the space between said piston and' said head;

a return'fluid control passageway of predeter mined size to said reservoir from-saidspace; in terlocking means retaining saidstem -in said second position; and means actuated by'sa-id spring: means following in part at leastevacuation of said fluid from said space releasing-said interlocking means to permit said stem maintaining. means to return the stem to itsfirst position.

2. A- stem-shifting device comprising a body; astem carried by the body shiftable between first and second positions; means normally yieldi'nglymaintaining said stem in said first position; a.. cylinder; a head-in the cylinder ;-afiuidreservoir above said head; a piston in the cylinder; a pis'- ton rod between'said piston and said stem springmeans normally urging said piston toward said; head; a lever; a-rod carried projecting member in the path of said lever to be contacted by rock ing the lever to pull said piston away-from said head and shift said stem to a second predeter mined position; means actuated by pressure-dif.-- ferential between opposite sides of said head in-- duced by travel ofsaid piston away from saidhead permitting one way'flow of fluid from-said reservoir to the space between said piston and. said head; a return fluid control passageway of predetermined size to said reservoir from said space; interlocking means retainingasaid stem in said second position; and means actuated by said spring means following: in part at least evacuation of said fluid fromsaid space releasin 'said' interlocking meansto permit said stem 'maintaining means to return the-stem to its firstposition; said stem having a recess therein at a-predetermined location therealong; said interlocking: means comprising a post reciprocatable-bysaidlever and having a recess therein, aball shiftably interposed between said stem and said post to.

enter" the recessof one when the other is "carried therepast, said sternand-post being slidable in 1 parallel relation in adjacent bores spacedapart lessthan-thediametermf"said-ball? a pin omsaid? 7 rod, andfa' head on'said post havingan elongated eye into whichsaid pin extends; 3. A stem shifting-device comprising-a body; a stem carried'by the. body shiitable between first j and second positions; means normally yieldingly maintaining said stem in said first position; a

cylinder; a head in the cylinder; a fluid reservoir above said head; a piston in the cylinder; a piston rod between said piston and said stem; spring means normally urging said piston toward said head; a lever;,a rod carried projecting member in the path of said lever to be contacted by rocking the lever to pull said piston away from said head and shift said stem to a second predetermined position; means actuated by pressure differential between opposite sides of said head induced by travel of said piston away from said head permitting one way flow of fluid from said reservoir to the space between said piston and said head; a return fluid control passageway of predetermined size to said reservoir from said space; interlocking means retaining said stem in said second position; and means actuated by said spring means following in part at least evacuation of said fluid from said space releasing said interlocking means to permit said stem maintaining means to return the stem to its first position; means'yieldingly retaining said lever in a nonoperating position; and a pawl holding said lever against travel to the stem shifting position until i said piston has effected said evacuation.

4. A stem shifting device comprising a stem; a fluid cylinder; a piston in the cylinder; a rod extending from said piston into the path of said stem; an operating lever pivoted by one portion to a member fixed in relation to said stem and said cylinder; means interengaging said lever and said rod only in a direction of rocking toward said stem as a means of shifting said stem to a predetermined position; means elastically opposingsaid stem shifting latch means retaining the stem in said position by said rocking of said lever; spring means returning said lever to an inoperative position for subsequent stem travel independently of the lever; an butment on said rod;

a stop on said fixed member; a pawl rockably mounted on said lever between said abutment and said stop and pawl being biased to rock into the path of said abutment and toward said stop to rest against said stop upon return travel of said lever to said inoperative position; spring means returning said rod and piston fromshifting of said stem and operation of said latch means;

hydraulic means limiting the return speed of i said piston and rod; 'means releasing said latch means toward the end of said return rod travel; and said abutment being located to rock said pawl away from said stop upon said end of rod return travel.

5. A stem shifting device comprising a stem; a fluid cylinder; a piston in the cylinder; a rod eX- tendin from said piston into the path of said stem; an operating lever pivoted by one portion to a member fixed in relation to said stem and I said cylinder; means interengaging said lever and said rod only in a direction of rocking toward said stem as a means of shifting said stem to a predetermined position; means elastically opposing said stem shifting latch means retaining the stem in said position by said rocking of said lever;

stop ,on said fixed member; a pawl rockably' mounted on said lever between said abutment and said stop and pawl being biased to rock into the path of said abutment and toward said stop to rest against said stop upon return travel of said lever to said inoperative position; spring means returning said rod and piston from shifting of said stem and operation of said latch means; hydraulic means limiting the return speed of said piston and rod; means releasing said latch means toward the end of said return rod travel; and said abutment bein located to rock said pawl away from said stop upon said end of rod return travel; said latch means comprising a lock rod reciprocatable adjacent said stem, both said stem and said lock rod having notches therein at different relative elevations, a ball shiftable between the lock rod and the stem to fit into .one of said notches while the member carrying the other notch is in sliding contact with the ball, said lock rod having a head with an elongated eye therein, a spring at one end of'said eye, and a member extending from said piston rod into said eye to push said lock rod to carry the lock rod notch past said ball under yielding pressure of the pin against said eye spring, and to pull the lock rod back to its notch registry with the ball upon said pin pushing against the other end of said eye.

6. A stem shifting device comprising a stem; a cylinder; a piston in the cylinder; a piston rod carried by the piston and. extending from the cylinder in substantially axial alignment with said stem; a spring normally urging said stem toward said rod to maintain the stem in a predetermined position; a second spring normally urging said piston'to a position to hold said rod in a normally inoperative position spaced from said stem; a lever rockably mounted to extend transversely across said rod; abutments provided between said rod and said lever to afford interengagement in travel of said leverfrom said initial inoperative position to shift said rod to in turn shift said stem to a second predetermined position and permit said lever to return to its said inoperative position in the absence of following travel of said rod;

spring means returning said lever to said inoperative position; releasable latch means for retaining said stem in its said second position; a member fixed in position in respect to said lever and. having an abutment thereon; a pawl having one end directed toward said rod and another end toward said fixed member, .said pawl being pivoted intermediate saidends on said lever, said pawl other end engaging said member to prevent reverse travel of said lever in a period of moving toward and prior to reaching said inoperative position; means actuated by said rod as it approaches its return end of travel as produced by said second spring to release said stem latch means; and hydraulic means yieldingly resisting the action of said second spring.

- ROBERT M. BALDWIN.

REFERENCES orran The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN S 

